JP2000331003A - Method and system for name retrieval, portable terephone unit and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly obtain a retrieval result by inputting either the character string of a last name or that of a first name to perform proper retrieval even in the case that a preserved character string of a name is a full name. SOLUTION: Telephone book information is previously preserved in a memory 3 for telephone book data preservation. When an input character string inputted by a data input device 2 is retrieved by a data processor 1 and a record having name information of this inputted name character string is found as the result, data of this record are temporarily preserved in a memory 4 for display. A display device 5 displays the inputted character string at the time of input of the character from the data input device 2 and displays the retrieval result stored in the memory 4 for display at the time of completion of retrieval. A sounding device 6 give an alarm like peeps indicating an error if the retrieval character string inputted by the data input device 2 doesn't exist in the memory 3 for telephone book data preservation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for searching a database storing records including a name character string based on an input name character string, and more particularly to a portable information device such as a portable telephone device. The present invention relates to a name search system suitable for searching telephone directory information in a device, a mobile phone device having the name search system, and a name search method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various kinds of information such as telephone numbers are registered as telephone directory information of a portable telephone device in correspondence with name information, and a plurality of records including fields such as names and telephone numbers are registered. It stores and builds a database of telephone directory information. In such a search of the telephone directory information in the mobile phone device or the like, for example, when telephone directory information named “John Smith”, that is, a record, is stored in advance, “John” is input as a search character string. In this case, a record of "John Smith" can be searched, and information of a record near the record in the telephone directory can be displayed.

[0003]

However, when "Smith" was entered as a name search character string and the search was started, "John Smith" could not be detected. Because if you search for "Smith",
This is because name information starting with "S" is searched and displayed.

As described above, when the name information stored as telephone directory information is a full name, a character string arranged at the top of the name information character string among the character strings of the last name or first name must be used. Cannot perform proper search. That is, when either the first name or the last name is forgotten, a search result may not be obtained.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. Even when the name information stored as telephone directory information or the like is a full name, either one of a surname or a first name character string is replaced. An object of the present invention is to provide a name search system and a method capable of performing an appropriate search if given, and quickly obtaining a search result.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a name search system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
Name data storage means for storing a plurality of records including name information and other information corresponding to the name information, input means for inputting a name character string constituting at least a part of the name, and display means for displaying information Display memory means for temporarily storing display data, and in response to input of a name character string by the input means, search for storage data in the name data storage means, and store the name character string in the name information. Search processing means for retrieving records contained in any part of the name and sequentially storing the records in the display memory means, and when the search processing means completes the search for all the stored data in the name data storage means, Output control means for sequentially outputting the records stored in the memory means to the display means for display.

According to the invention, the search processing means searches the data stored in the name data storage means in response to the input of the name character string by the input means, and includes the name character string in an arbitrary part of the name information. Records are sequentially stored in the display memory means. That is, the search processing unit determines that the input character string is not included in any part of the name information, not only when the input character string by the input unit and the name information match each other in order from the first character. If there is, this is retrieved and sequentially stored in the display memory means. When the search processing means completes the search for all the stored data, the output control means sequentially outputs the records stored in the display memory means to the display means for display. As a result, even when the name information stored as the telephone directory information is a full name, an appropriate search can be performed by giving either the first name or the last name character string, and either the last name or the first name can be performed. Even if you forget, you can get search results quickly. Further, even if the user does not completely remember the first name or last name, the user can input only the part that he or she remembers to search the telephone directory information and the like, and the search result can be obtained quickly.

The search processing means does not search the storage data stored in the name data storage means unless a character string is input by the input means, and searches only when a character string is input. May be included.

The search processing means includes means for, when a character string is input by the input means, sequentially searching stored data stored in the name data storage means using the character string input at that time. May be included. Thus, it is not necessary to perform a key input for starting a search such as a “search start key” or an “enter key”, and the number of key inputs can be reduced, and a search result can be obtained quickly.

[0010] If the record corresponding to the character string input by the input means is not detected from the data stored in the name data storage means, the search processing means prohibits further inputting of characters by the input means. A means for deleting the last character of the column and performing a search again may be included. As a result, when there is no record corresponding to the input character string, the operation of the input person can be simplified and a search result can be obtained quickly.

[0011] The information processing apparatus may further include alarm means for issuing an alarm when a record corresponding to the character string input by the input means is not detected from the data stored in the name data storage means. Thus, when there is no record corresponding to the input character string in the name data storage means, an alarm such as a beep sound indicating an error is issued to notify the input user of the occurrence of the error, thereby preventing unnecessary input operations thereafter. And quick search.

[0012] A portable telephone device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the above-mentioned name search system, and the name data storage means stores a plurality of name information and telephone numbers corresponding to the name information, The input means includes a keyboard for inputting a telephone number and a character string. In addition, PHS (Personal Han)
dyphone System).

A name search method according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a name input step of sequentially inputting a name character string constituting at least a part of a name; Search for data stored in a name data storage unit that stores a plurality of records including other information corresponding to the name information, search for a record including the name character string in an arbitrary part of the name information, and sequentially search for the record. A search step of storing the data in the memory, and a display step of sequentially outputting and displaying the records stored in the display memory when the search for all the stored data in the name data storage unit is completed by the search step. Characterized by having

According to the present invention, the search step, in response to the input of the name character string, stores the plurality of records including the name information and other information corresponding to the name information. And stores a record including the name character string input in the name input step in an arbitrary part of the name information in the display memory. That is, the search step is performed not only when the name character string and the name information match each other in order from the first character but also when the name character string is included in an arbitrary part in the name information. ,
This is retrieved and sequentially stored in the display memory. And
When the search is completed for all the stored data in the name data storage unit in the search step, the display step sequentially outputs and displays the records stored in the display memory. As a result, even when the name information stored as the telephone directory information is a full name, an appropriate search can be performed by giving either the first name or the last name character string, and either the last name or the first name can be performed. Even if you forget, you can get search results quickly. Further, even if the first name or the last name is not completely memorized, it is possible to input only the memorized part to search the telephone directory information or the like. The present invention
In particular, when the present invention is applied to a mobile phone device and used for searching for telephone directory information, the number of key inputs can be reduced and a search result can be obtained quickly.

If no record including the name string in the name information is found in the search step, further input of the name string is prohibited, and the last character of the already input string is deleted. May be further included. This allows
If there is no record corresponding to the name character string entered in the name input step, the input user can perform the next search without performing operations such as deleting one character, saving the trouble of the input user and quickly You can get search results.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium, comprising: a computer for storing a plurality of records including name information and other information corresponding to the name information; Input means for inputting a name character string constituting a part thereof, display means for displaying information, display memory means for temporarily storing display data, and response to input of the name character string by the input means. ,
A search processing unit that searches the storage data of the name data storage unit, searches for a record including the name character string in an arbitrary part of the name information, and sequentially stores the record in the display memory unit; An output control unit for sequentially outputting the records stored in the display memory unit to the display unit when the search for all the stored data in the name data storage unit is completed, and displaying the records. The program is recorded on a computer and can be read by a computer.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a name search system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a name search system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This name search system is incorporated in, for example, a portable telephone device or the like to achieve a telephone directory function.

As shown in FIG. 1, the name search system comprises a data processing device 1, a data input device 2, a telephone directory data storage memory 3, a display memory 4, a display device 5, The device 6 is provided.

The data processing device 1 has a CPU (Central Pr
The system is configured to control the entire name search system, and performs a name search process of telephone directory information in this system.

The data input device 2 comprises a keyboard including dial keys for inputting telephone numbers and menu keys for calling various functions. Then, for example, a character is assigned to each key of the dial key, and by inputting a character corresponding to the type of the pressed dial key and the number of times of pressing, a name character string to be searched can be input.

The telephone directory data storage memory 3 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile memory or the like, and stores telephone directory information in advance. Here, the telephone directory information stores a plurality of records including fields including name information, telephone number information, and the like, thereby constructing a telephone directory database.

The display memory 4 is composed of a volatile memory or the like, and when there is a record having name information including the input name character string, temporarily stores the data of the record. A record corresponding to the name information to be searched is searched for and displayed on the display device 5. The information to be displayed is temporarily stored in the display memory 4 until the search is completed.

The display device 5 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and displays the input character string when the character string is input by the data input device 2 or is held in the display memory 4 when the search is completed. It is used to display search results that have been retrieved. In inputting the name information by the data input device 2, while looking at the input characters displayed on the display device 5, a character input using a dial key or a single character deletion such as a final input character using a delete key is performed. be able to.

The sounding device 6 is constituted by a so-called electronic buzzer or the like. When the search character string input by the data input device 2 is not present in the telephone directory data storage memory 3, an alarm such as a beep sound indicating an error is issued. Then, the input user is notified of the occurrence of the error, and the subsequent useless input operation is prevented.

Next, the operation of the name search system having the above configuration will be described.

This name search system is incorporated in, for example, a portable telephone device or the like, and provides a search result quickly by searching, extracting and displaying a record including an input character string in an arbitrary part of name information. It is a system that can.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a portable telephone device to which the name retrieval system is applied. The input person presses a menu key or a dial key provided in such a portable telephone device, thereby performing a name retrieval. You can instruct the system to search or enter a name string. Then, the name search system can display the search result on the display unit of the mobile phone device and provide the input person with the phonebook information or the like as the search result.

In general, in such a portable telephone device, the number of keys that can be installed is limited, so that when searching for telephone directory information or the like, the number of key inputs is increased, which is inconvenient. It took a lot of time to get results. Therefore, this name search system is applied to such a mobile phone device, an appropriate search can be performed by inputting a part of name information, and the number of key inputs can be reduced, and a search result can be obtained quickly. be able to.

In this name search system, when the data processing device 1 detects the name character string input from the data input device 2, the data processing device 1 uses the input character string as a search character string to store the telephone directory data storage memory 3. Search the name information of the stored data of. The data processing device 1 retrieves and extracts a record including the input character string in an arbitrary part of the name information from the telephone directory data storage memory 3 and sequentially stores the record in the display memory 4. The data processing device 1 outputs the result stored in the display memory 4 to the display device 5 for display when all records in the telephone directory data storage memory 3 are searched. When there is no corresponding record in the telephone directory data storage memory 3, the data processing device 1 issues an alarm by the sounding device 6 and prohibits the input of the name character string by the data input device 2 thereafter. Delete the last character of the input name string and search again.

In order to realize such a function, the name search system is operated each time the input user operates the data input device 2 to instruct the search of telephone directory information or the like, and thereafter, every time a name character string is input. Then, the name search process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is started.

Here, it is assumed that records including a name, a telephone number, and the like which have already been registered as telephone directory data are stored in ascending order of names. FIG. 4 exemplifies a display screen when the name search system operates. In the screen of the display device 5 shown in FIG. 4, the input character string is displayed at the upper end of the screen, and the search is performed below the character string. The result is displayed.

When the name search process is started, the data processing device 1 detects the input character code (step S).
1) Initialize a subscript i of an array indicating a variable that stores a name character string to be searched (step S2). further,
The data processing device 1 clears the contents of the display memory 4 (step S3), and displays the input character string on the display device 5 (step S4).

Thereafter, the data processing device 1 determines whether or not the name character string displayed on the display device 5 as an input character string is one or more characters (step S5). That is, it is determined whether or not a search character string has been input.

When the data processing device 1 determines that the name character string displayed on the display device 5 is not one or more characters (NO in step S5), since the search character string has not been input, the stored records are sorted in ascending name order. It is displayed from the beginning (step S7), and the name search process ends.

On the other hand, when the data processing device 1 determines that the character string displayed on the display device 5 is one or more characters (YES in step S5), the name character string of the stored record [i] corresponding to the subscript i It is determined whether or not an input character string is included therein (step S6). Here, if the input character string is included in an arbitrary part in the name character string of the saved record [i], the data processing device 1 saves the saved record [i].
It is determined that the input character string is included in the name character string. That is, the input character string and the name character string of the stored record [i] do not need to match each other starting from the first character, and the same character string as the input character string is included in any part of the name character string. It just needs to be.

For example, when the name character string of the saved record [i] is “Hiroshi Tokimura”, the input character string “Tokimura” is included in the name character string, and the input character string is “Koshi” or “Koshi”. Even if it is "H", the data processing device 1 determines that the input character string is included in the name character string of the saved record [i].

When the data processing device 1 determines that the input character string is included (YES in step S6), it stores the record in the display memory 4 (step S8).
The subscript i is incremented by 1 (step S9). On the other hand, when the data processing device 1 determines that the input character string is not included (NO in step S6), the data processing device 1 proceeds to step S8.
Is skipped, and in step S9, the subscript i
Is incremented by one. In this way, the data processing device 1 checks whether the displayed character string is included in the character string of the record stored in the telephone directory data storage memory 3 on a record-by-record basis, and finds the corresponding character string. The record is stored in the display memory 4.

Next, the data processing device 1 determines whether or not the content of the record [i] is empty (step S).
10). That is, it is determined whether or not all the stored records have been searched. When the data processing device 1 determines that the content of the record [i] is not empty (NO in step S10),
The process returns to step S6 to continue searching for records. On the other hand, the data processing device 1 records the record [i]
Is determined to be empty (Y in step S10).
ES), since all records have been searched, it is determined whether the contents of the display memory 4 are empty (step S11). That is, the presence or absence of the corresponding record is determined.

If the data processing device 1 determines that the display memory 4 is not empty (NO in step S11), it outputs the contents to the display device 5 in order from the top as shown in FIG. 4 (step S12). Then, the name search process ends.

On the other hand, when the data processing device 1 determines that the contents of the display memory 4 are empty (YES in step S11), it means that there is no corresponding record.
As an error, "not found" is displayed on the display device 5 as shown in FIG. 4, and an alarm beep is sounded by the sound device 6 to prohibit further input by the data input device 2 ( Step S13). The input of the character string by the data input device 2 may be prohibited, for example, by ignoring the input.

When a beep is sounded in step S13, after a lapse of a predetermined time, for example, one second, the last character of the character string displayed as the input character string on the display device 5 is deleted (step S14). ), Returning to step S2,
The above processing is continued. Thus, when there is no record corresponding to the input character string, the input user can use the data input device 2
, A new search can be performed without taking steps such as instructing the deletion of one character. Therefore, in a device in which the number of keys that can be installed is limited, such as a mobile phone device, the number of key operations can be reduced and search results can be obtained quickly.

In the portable telephone device provided with such a name search system, after the user obtains a desired search result by executing the above name search process, for example, a call key provided in the data input device 2 is pressed. Then, a call may be made to request communication with the other party specified by the obtained search result.

As described above, this name retrieval system retrieves and displays a relevant record regardless of the part of the stored record in which the input character string is included. For this reason, even if only one part of the name is remembered, not only one of the last name and the first name, the search can be performed. For example, you can search for records stored as "Taro Yamada" as "Taro",
In an extreme case, even if the search is performed using the single character “RO”, a search result of a record including the character “RO” can be obtained.

Since the search is started each time a character is input, it is not necessary to perform a key input for starting a search such as a "search start key" or an "enter key", thereby reducing the number of key inputs. be able to. In addition, if the input character string is not included in any of the stored records, when it is detected, the character input cannot be performed thereafter. In this case, a beep sound or the like of an alarm is sounded, and further useless key input operation can be prevented. In addition, since the data before and after the record including the input character string is not displayed, only the corresponding record is displayed.
It is easy to find one record. As a result, when this name search system is applied to a device in which the number of keys that can be installed is limited, such as a mobile phone, the number of key operations can be reduced and search results can be obtained quickly, which is very effective. It is.

Here, the portable telephone device is a PHS (Person
al Handyphone System) and the like, and includes any telephone device that can be carried by a user to make a call.

It should be noted that the name search system of the present invention can be realized by using an ordinary computer system without configuring as a dedicated system. For example,
A medium (floppy disk, CD-ROM) storing a program for executing the above-described operation in a computer system.
By installing the program from a ROM or the like, a name search system that executes the above-described processing can be constructed. By the installation, the program is stored in a medium such as a hard disk in the computer system, configures a name search system, and is provided for execution.

The medium for supplying the program to the computer is not limited to a storage medium in a narrow sense, but may be a communication line,
Like a communication network and a communication system, it may be a storage medium in a broad sense including a communication medium that temporarily and fluidly stores information such as a program.

For example, the program may be registered in an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server provided on a communication network such as the Internet, and distributed to an FTP client via the network, or a bulletin board (BBS: Bulletin) of the communication network. The program may be registered in a board system or the like and distributed via a network. Then start this program and run the OS
The above processing can be achieved by executing under the control of the (Operating System). Furthermore, the above-described processing can also be achieved by starting and executing the program while transferring the program via the communication network.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the name character string stored as the telephone directory information or the like is a full name, one of the last name and first name character strings is replaced. If provided, it is possible to provide a name search system capable of performing an appropriate search and quickly obtaining a search result, a portable telephone device provided with the name search system, and a name search method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a name search system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a mobile phone device to which the name search system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the name search system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a change in display for explaining the operation of the name search system in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 data processing device 2 data input device 3 phonebook data storage memory 4 display memory 5 display device 6 sound generator

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) H04B 7/26 109T F term (reference) 5B020 BB10 CC12 GG05 GG22 GG25 5B075 ND20 PP02 PP12 PP22 PQ02 QM02 UU09 5K036 AA07 DD16 DD46 FF02 JJ02 JJ13 5K067 AA34 BB04 EE02 FF07 FF23 HH22 HH23

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. Name data storage means for storing a plurality of records including name information and other information corresponding to the name information; input means for inputting a name character string constituting at least a part of the name; Display means for displaying, display memory means for temporarily storing display data, and in response to input of a name character string by the input means, search for storage data in the name data storage means, Search processing means for searching for a record including a column in an arbitrary part of the name information and sequentially storing the records in the display memory means, and the search processing means completes the search for all storage data in the name data storage means And output control means for sequentially outputting the records stored in the display memory means to the display means for displaying the records. Stem. 2. The search processing means does not search the storage data stored in the name data storage means unless a character string is input by the input means, and searches only when a character string is input. 2. The name search system according to claim 1, further comprising means for performing the following. 3. The search processing means, when a character string is input by the input means, sequentially searches the storage data stored in the name data storage means using the character string input at that time. 3. The name search system according to claim 1, further comprising means. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the record corresponding to the character string input by the input unit is not detected from the data stored in the name data storage unit, the search processing unit prohibits further input of characters by the input unit. 4. The name search system according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting the last character of the input character string and performing a search again. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit for issuing an alarm when a record corresponding to the character string input by said input unit is not detected from the data stored in said name data storage unit. The name search system according to any one of the above. 6. A name search system according to claim 1, wherein the name data storage means stores a plurality of name information and a plurality of telephone numbers corresponding to the name information, The mobile telephone device, wherein the means includes a keyboard for inputting a telephone number and a character string. 7. A name inputting step of sequentially inputting a name character string constituting at least a part of a name, including name information and other information corresponding to the name information in response to the input of the name character string. A search step of searching stored data in a name data storage unit for storing a plurality of records, searching for a record including the name character string in an arbitrary part of the name information, and sequentially storing the records in a display memory; A display step of sequentially outputting and displaying the records stored in the display memory when the search for all the stored data in the name data storage unit is completed. 8. If no record including the name string in the name information is found in the search step, further input of the name string is prohibited, and the last character of the already input string is deleted. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a re-searching step returning to the searching step. 9. A computer, comprising: name data storage means for storing a plurality of records including name information and other information corresponding to the name information; and input means for inputting a name character string constituting at least a part of the name. Display means for displaying information; display memory means for temporarily storing display data; and responding to input of a name character string by the input means, searching for data stored in the name data storage means, Search processing means for searching for a record including a name character string in an arbitrary part of the name information and sequentially storing the record in the display memory means; and searching for all the storage data of the name data storage means by the search processing means When the search is completed, a name search system comprising: output control means for sequentially outputting the records stored in the display memory means to the display means for display. A computer-readable recording medium that records a program that functions as a stem.